Gertrude M. Reith

Gertrude Louise McKean Reith, Ph.D., aged 96 of Santa Barbara passed away February 20, 2013 at Cottage Hospital. She was born November 2, 1916 in Stockport, Iowa, the daughter of Herbert Allen and Gertrude Gretchen (Fickle) McKean. Gertrude grew up in the Puyallup Valley in Washington State where Mt. Rainier quickly became "her" mountain. Gertrude earned her BA and MA degrees from the University of Washington where she was Phi Beta Kappa. Gertrude began her Ph.D. studies at Clark University, Worcester, MA in 1940 but left to support the war effort in Washington D.C. during WW II. After raising a family she returned to school at Clark and earned her Ph.D. in 1963. Gertrude taught Geography at California State University, Fullerton for many years before retiring in 1985. Since 1996 Gertrude has resided at Casa Dorinda where she enjoyed serving on the Residents Council. She never truly stopped teaching and wanting to share her travel experiences. She made many presentions to her grandchildren's school classes, civic groups, and her friends at Casa. Gertrude loved Mt. Rainier and her Saturdays and Sundays were always reserved for the Metropolitan Opera broadcasts. To mourn her loss, Gertrude leaves behind her daughter Helen (Mike) of Creighton MO, her son John (Charlotte) of Pasadena CA, her grandson Mark (Michele), granddaughter Janet, and great-granddaughter Candace. Cremation has been accorded. A family memorial service will be held March 15, 2013 with internment at Sunrise Garden, Santa Barbara. Should you choose to honor her life, donations made be made to either Mt. Rainier via the Washington National Park Fund (http://www.wnpf.org/) or the The Metropolitan Opera (www.metoperafamily.org/).